Governor inaugurates 9th East Himalayan Expo
Shillong: Governor Ganga Prasad inaugurated the 9th East Himalayan Expo at U Soso Tham Auditorium on Thursday. The week-long fair is aimed at promoting trade and commerce in the northeastern states. The 81 stalls at the venue have an array of products from the organic and horticulture sections and household articles. Y. Tsering and Additional Chief Secretary PW Ingty were also present at Thursday’s function. Organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation in association with the DoNER Ministry and supported by the state government, National Small Industries Corporation and the Ayush Ministry, the fair will continue till December 20.
Meet for parents of intellectually disabled kids in Tura
SHILLONG: A regional meeting for parents of intellectually disabled people will be held in Tura on Friday and Saturday. The conference will consist of 8 technical sessions where subjects relating to rights of persons with disability. The conference will discuss the rules required to be formulated by the State and provide a draft for making the RPD Act operative in Meghalaya. More than 150 delegates from different districts of Meghalaya and other northeastern states are expected to attend the conference, to be organised by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual disability, Secunderabad, and Parivaar and the National confederation of Parent Organizations, Pune. Parivaar will encourage parents to form a parent group in Meghalaya and become part of its self-advocacy movement. The National Institute will distribute learning kits among students from low economic backgrounds.
GH police rescue Nokma’s son-in-law from kidnappers
TURA: The son-in-law of a Nokma who was kidnapped on December 10 was rescued late on Thursday afternoon. Janseng M Sangma (29) was kidnapped on Sunday night by a group of miscreants from his residence. On Thursday, the criminals had set up a rendezvous point at Gare Newak road which falls inside South Garo Hills district and instructed the victim’s family to come with the ransom money of around Rs 1 lakh. Getting a whiff of the exchange police teams trailed the family members and spotted the two parties. But the kidnappers too saw the police and attempted to escape with the money and the victim. The police then opened fire to scare the criminals and this worked as the kidnappers let their victim loose and fled for their lives. The money could not be retrieved. Police have identified the kidnappers from the description given by two teenagers who were arrested in connection with the case. Sengnang M Marak and Robu M. Marak of Rongap Mikgilsimgre village in Songsak have revealed the identities and modus operandi of the gang.
Wapungskur Presbyterian Church celebrates 125th year
JOWAI: The Wapungskur Presbyterian Church organised a community fest, the largest in East Jaintia Hills, as part of its 125th year jubilee celebrations. The Wapungskur Presbyterian Church, which was known as the Pamra Presbyterian Church up to 1989, was founded in 1892 by Khroo Ryngkhlem and Ka Shong in Mukoilara — the old village inhabited by residents of Wapungskur during the early days of Christianity in the area. The church was rechristened Wapung Presbyterian Church in 1989 with approval from the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod. It bagan the celebrations in January this year and the closing ceremony will be held on Sunday.
Ummulong headman loses his majority
JOWAI: Ummulong headman Shelsing Langi lost his majority during the general dorbar held on Wednesday following the order of the Meghalaya High Court. The General Dorbar, observed by Dolloi Jowai Puramon Kynjing, witnessed a division of more than one third of its residents between those who supported the present headman and those of the acting headman appointed by the JHADC recently. JHADC decided to remove Langi following complaints by residents and a report submitted by the Dolloi, Jowai Ealaka. The General Dorbar was held with tight security as per the Meghalaya High Court’s Order. During the General Dorbar, one third of the residents of Ummulong village were against Langi. However, a small group supporting the headman stirred up confusion by preventing members of the opposition in sharing their grievances. The Dolloi, after observing the situation said, “I came here not to elect a new headman but I came here as per the order of the honourable High Court and if you could not solve your own problems, I have nothing to say but to file my reports and findings to the Executive Committee, JHADC for appropriate action”.
Pala wants Centre to clear air over mine ownership
SHILLONG: The central government should clarify that coal belongs to the owners of the land in the state, Congress MP from Shillong Vincent Pala said as he tried to point out there is no clarity on this matter. Pala was speaking at the release of the book Bynrap Bahynriew, Sixth Schedule, Constitution of India written by Bindo Lanong at Asom Kristi Kendra on Thursday. Stating that ownership of coal mines still belong to the people of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, he said, “There is no clarity on whether the coal belongs to the state or the people which then prevents the people from applying mining plans and mining lease.” Pala went on to say people are not aware about the rights as per the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and said that there has to be an amendment of the Sixth Schedule to create a balance between protection and development. Speaking about the book, Lanong said that the effort took him more than a year to write as research had to be done from various quarters. He added the book contain highlights on the Panchayat System although he said that such a system will not work in the state.
Students demand distribution of M-Tablets
SHILLONG: Students of different colleges in the state have demanded the state government to clarify on the distribution of M-Tabs and why they haven’t received the scheme. Niawki Iakai told reporters on Thursday that the students appealed to the state government on the distribution of M-Tabs for the year 2015-16 questioning the legitimacy of the scheme.
RBYC makes X-mas donation to Children’s Home
Nongpoh: The Ri Bhoi Youth Council donated blankets and rice to the Children’s Home of Ri Bhoi Synod at Mawsyntai as a Christmas gift. Larry Tmung, president, Mission Tron and general secretary, RBYC, led the donation drive. The programme was attended by the pastors of Ri Bhoi Synod and village leaders of Mawsyntai. Speaking at the programme, the pastors lauded the initiatives of the council saying it was the first time that an organisation had donated to Children’s Home which is run by the Ri Bhoi Synod.